Psalms 8:5
What does Psalms 8:5 mean?
A plain-English look at Psalms 8:5 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Psalms 8:5 means
This verse provides the astonishing answer to the question posed in verse 4. Far from being insignificant, humanity has been exalted by God to a position of immense dignity and honor. The phrase "made him but little lower than God" (or "a little lower than the angels" in some translations, the Hebrew word *Elohim* can refer to both God and divine beings/angels) declares humanity's unique status as God's image-bearers, endowed with remarkable capacities. To be "crowned him with glory and honor" signifies a royal and majestic distinction, setting mankind apart from all other creation and bestowing upon us a unique value in God's eyes.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000For thou hast made him but little lower than God, And crownest him with glory and honor.
KJV
King James Version · 1611For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901For thou hast made him but little lower than God, And crownest him with glory and honor.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949For you have made him only a little lower than the gods, crowning him with glory and honour.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862And causest him to lack a little of Godhead, And with honour and majesty compassest him.
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752What is man, that thou art mindful of him? or the son of man, that thou visitest him?
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890Thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and splendour.
Context
Building directly on the profound question of the previous verse, this verse offers the first part of the answer, revealing humanity's exalted status. It moves from questioning man's worth to declaring God's investiture of glory and honor upon him. This statement about humanity's position immediately precedes the more specific description of the dominion God grants to mankind, making sense of *why* man is given such authority.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Genesis 1:26
And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the birds of the heavens, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.
- 1 Peter 1:20
who was foreknown indeed before the foundation of the world, but was manifested at the end of the times for your sake,
- Psalms 103:20
Bless Jehovah, ye his angels, That are mighty in strength, that fulfil his word, Hearkening unto the voice of his word.
- Hebrews 2:9
But we behold him who hath been made a little lower than the angels, even Jesus, because of the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, that by the grace of God he should taste of death for every man.
- Psalms 103:4
Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; Who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies;
- Philippians 2:7
but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in the likeness of men;
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